This is the buzz on the Pensacola city elections. We are expecting to see people file for the mayor’s race before the end of the month.
Mayor Mike Wiggins appears to be ready to make a run at strong mayor. Council member Diane Mack may even announce today that she is running for mayor.
If Mack runs for mayor, then Councilman Sam Hall is expected to give up his District 2 seat and file for Mack’s at-large post. Hall may find himself facing developer Ashton Hayward, who is also considering a run for mayor.
Other names for the mayor’s race include Supervisor of Elections David Stafford and former Councilman Hugh King.
If the race for mayor is Wiggins, Mack, Stafford and King, then race will be wide open. Wiggins and Stafford will split the Cordova Park-East Pensacola vote. Mack and King would split the African-American vote.
Another name that is being mentioned – more in Tallahassee than here – is ECUA Board member Lois Benson. Since her daughter Megan is on the city council, I don’t see Lois making a run for mayor. However she could make a bid a state house seat and run against one of the Clays – Ford or Ingram.